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Press Release

Member Of Camden, New Jersey, Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Drug Distribution

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey

CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for selling crack cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Karim Johnson, a/k/a “Chicky,” 39, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Johnson admitted that he sold crack cocaine and furanyl fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, around the 1700 block of Filmore Street in Camden. Johnson and nine other members of the drug ring were initially arrested in June 2017 following a long-term investigation by the FBI, which utilized multiple telephone wiretaps, surveillance, confidential informants, cooperating witnesses, more than 20 controlled drug purchases, a GPS vehicle tracker and four court-authorized search warrants, among other investigative techniques. Members of the drug trafficking organization distributed crack cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin to users and resellers in and around Camden and to people cooperating with the FBI. The investigation ultimately led to the seizure of more than 300 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of fentanyl and heroin, a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and recent charges against an eleventh member of the organization, Davon Leak, 19.

Four other defendants – Daron Suiter, 24, George Williams, 44, Latoya Whealton, a/k/a “Toya,” 34, and Rajai Gaines, a/k/a “Jigga,” 36 – have previously pleaded guilty. Suiter was sentenced on Aug. 9, 2018, to 60 months imprisonment; the other defendants are awaiting sentencing.
Drug and firearm charges remain pending in a second superseding indictment against six other defendants, including alleged leaders John Gunther, a/k/a “Critty,” 35; and Taleaf Gunther, a/k/a “Leafy” and “L,” 32; as well as alleged members William Roland, a/k/a “Chill,” 36; Mark Campbell, a/k/a “D” and Diz,” 28; Malcolm McCoy, 26; and Rajai Gaines, a/k/a “Jigga,” 36.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Johnson to eight years of supervised release and 300 hours of community service.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief J. Scott Thomson; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Calahan, with the investigation.

He also thanked the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, the Cherry Hill Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

Defense counsel:
Johnson: Stanley O. King Esq., Woodbury, New Jersey
Suiter: Martin I. Isenberg Esq., Gibbsboro, New Jersey
Williams: Michael E. Riley Esq., Mount Holly, New Jersey
Whealton: David S. Rudenstein Esq., Philadelphia
John Gunther: Edward J. Crisonino Esq., Westmont, New Jersey
Taleaf Gunther: Robert C. Wolf Esq., Westmont
Roland: Megan J. Davies Esq., Westmont
Campbell: Troy A. Archie Esq., Cinnaminson, New Jersey
McCoy: Albert W. Allison Esq., Blackwood, New Jersey
Gaines: Edward F. Borden Esq., Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Leak: Teri Lodge Esq., Marlton, New Jersey

 

Updated November 27, 2018

Topic
Drug Trafficking
Press Release Number: 18-413